Phil Morris
Founder, Testicular Cancer UK, & Patient
This article is part of a disease awareness campaign fully funded and sponsored by Besins Healthcare UK Ltd.
Phil Morris had to fight to get his testosterone deficiency recognised, but treatment helped him to regain his spark.
Despite being just 30 I’d no sex drive and felt really old.
At the age of 29, Phil Morris was diagnosed with testicular cancer. After surgery to remove his right testicle and chemotherapy, he thought life would return to normal. But a year later he still suffered excessive fatigue. “I went from being a really chirpy lad to feeling like a zombie sitting on the sofa all day,” Phil remembers, who also noticed other symptoms including low mood, weight gain and hot flushes. “Despite being just 30 I’d no sex drive and felt really old,” he says.
Challenging access to treatment
The GP prescribed antidepressants, but they had no effect. Then he read an article discussing how after surgery the remaining testicle cannot always produce sufficient testosterone.
Phil’s GP followed up with blood tests which initially proved inconclusive. However, with further advice from a hospital consultant, who was treating him for a kidney stone, an appropriate course of management was identified.
After a few years, he felt sufficiently well so he decided to stop treatment. However, when symptoms soon returned, he sought help again and this time he was diagnosed with both testosterone deficiency and high blood sugar, indicating a danger of developing type 2 diabetes.
Both issues have since been addressed and Phil is glad that he sought help when he did. Seeing his doctor for his symptoms and deciding on an appropriate course of management has been key for his health.
If you are affected by any of the issues in this article or want more information, please talk to your doctor.
This content was originally published on 30th November 2021
BHUK/2022/230 | December 2022
